The market share of the three major domestic automakers continues to slip, with sales for the month of May remaining flat, and market share falling to a near-record low of 52.9%. General Motor’s share fell to 22.7% down from 28.8% in 2005. Ford also experienced a slight drop in share, from 18.9% last year to 18.6% this year. Ford’s perennial bestseller, the F-150 saw a drop in sales by up to 6% last month, despite incentives. Chrysler’s share took a dive to 14.3% from 15.5%.

Meanwhile, Asian automakers continue to expand their share of the market. Toyota’s sales were stronger by 17% boosted by strong performance from luxury arm Lexus. For the second consecutive month, sales of Toyota brands outpaced that of Daimler-Chrysler’s. Meanwhile, Honda sales, riding on the very successful Civic, grew by 16.1%. Not all Asian brands, however, were looking up. Sales for Nissan dropped to 7.3% as most of the cars and trucks in its lineup are nearing the end of their model life. Demand for minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks stayed flat with buyer interest shifting towards smaller, fuel-efficient cars because of the high gas prices.

Toyota is recalling close to 1 million vehicles in a global recall to repair a glitch in the steering parts and systems. Apparently, the intermediate shafts and sliding yokes were prone to cracking and skewing which can seriously jeopardize the driver’s control over the vehicle. Since March 2004, Toyota has received over 30 complaints regarding the steering part problem but there have been no crashes or injuries reported yet.

The recall will involve up to 170,000 Toyota Prius hybrids sold in the U.S. It will also cover 565,756 vehicles in Japan and 240,000 vehicles in Europe. Most of the recalled vehicles were manufactured within September 2002 to November 2005. The last major Toyota recall released in October 2005 involved problems with headlamps. Meanwhile, Toyota is going to appoint a new quality managing director, according to President Katsuki Watanabe.

The results are in for this year’s fifth annual North American Concept Vehicle of the Year award. The jury of almost two dozen automotive journalists from across North America has chosen which among the 25 concept vehicles and 12 production preview vehicles that debuted in 2006 stand out above the rest. The award honors the vehicles that are most likely to shape the future of the automobile industry.

The Volvo C30 and the Aston Martine Rapide were adjudged as the 2006 Production Preview Vehicle of the Year. The Rapide, stylish, four-door, luxury coupe, impressed the jurors as much as the gorgeous Volvo C30 did. Meanwhile, the highly contested 2006 Concept Car of the Year Award went to the Chevrolet Camaro, highlighting the resurgence of the popularity of ‘Muscle Cars’.

In the Truck and SUV category, the Dodge Rampage emerged as the 2006 Concept Truck of the Year, besting other contenders with its innovative features like Stow-N-Go seating and dual-level cargo-bed. Meanwhile, in the Specialty Concept Category, the Ford Reflex snapped up the top spot. The Ford Reflex sport coupe also garnered the highest scores among the four finalists and emerged as the 2006 Most Significant Concept Vehicle of the Year.

The North American Concept Vehicle of the Year awards is given out annually for the five consecutive years now by the South East Automotive Media Organization or SEAMO.

Every demographic and age group has their own favorite domestic vehicle deemed as the most buzz-worthy. A study conducted by the Kelley Blue Book and Harris Interactive identified the top-ranked buzz-worthy cars for each generation. Among the domestic vehicles cited, the Dodge Charger entered the top 5 in two categories and is the top-ranked buzz-worthy vehicle in one. Here’s the shortlist of the top buzz-worthy domestic vehicles per generation/demographic group:

Generation Y (1977-1986) – Chevy Cobalt
Generation X (1965-1976) – Hummer H3
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) – Dodge Charger
Pre-Boomers (1945-earlier) – Ford Five Hundred
Hispanic, African-American – Shelby Cobra GT 500
Asian – Lexus 400h

The importance of seatbelts in vehicle safety can not be ignored. Over the yeas, innovations have been introduced to make seatbelts more efficient and convenient for vehicle occupants. New seatbelt designs and technologies are now being developed by a number of companies and automakers. Many automakers are working on seatbelts that are attached to the seats instead of the side or ceiling of the car as in conventional seatbelts. However, this type of seatbelts may not be convenient for rear-seat passengers than front-seat occupants.

Some automakers are also developing seatbelts that amp up the level of protection by automatically tightening as soon as it detects pressure on the brakes in the event of an impending crash. This ensures that the passenger is properly restrained in case of crash. Another seatbelt innovation still in the works is a rear-seatbelt warning system that inflates on impact.

Another high-tech innovation in seatbelts is a built in breathalyzer system that is linked to the car’s starter. Apparently, the car will not start if the breathalyzer detects a high alcohol content level in the driver. Still, this integrated breathalyzer must comply with varying state DUI laws. These new designs will be offered either as standard equipment or part of a safety options package.

Among the current models featuring seat-integrated seatbelts include the 2007 Honda Element, Saab 9-3 convertibles, Mercedes CL-, SL-class. The Infiniti Q45, M35, and M45 also offer electronic sensor system. The rear-seat shoulder belts in the new Ford Reflex concept feature air bags. Meanwhile, Volvo is developing an integrated breathalyzer and seat-belt system called Alcolock.

The new 2006 Toyota Rav4 bested 6 other SUVs to emerge as the top-rated small sport utility vehicle in a test conducted by Consumer Reports. Rav4 garnered a rating of ‘Excellent’ surpassing other strong competitors in the crowded small SUV segment such as the popular Honda CR-V and the bestselling Subaru Forester, once a top pick in the same test a few months ago.

Among the SUV’s that Consumer Reports tested at the Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut was the Suzuki Grand Vitara, Ford Explorer V6 and V8, Jeep Commander V8 and a Chevrolet Tahoe V8, the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V. David Champion, the senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center says that, “The redesigned RAV4 tops its class with either the standard four-cylinder engine or the optional V6 powerplant. With the optional third-row seat and the V6 engine, the RAV4 is a good alternative to some more expensive midsized SUVs.”

Halo cars are designed to showcase what an automaker can offer in terms of design, engineering and technology. Usually a halo vehicle will feature all the talent and resources that the automaker has. Halo cars are special vehicles, typically sporty or a luxury model designed not really to sell but to draw in more customers who will hopefully believe in what the company can offer and purchase a vehicle, albeit a more practical one. However, putting out a halo car also has its risks. If the vehicle fails to live up to its promises and the expectations of the customers, these buyers will likely stay away from the automaker.

Halo cars have been around for quite a while in the automotive industry. For instance, the Corvette was Chevrolet’s halo car back in the ‘50s. It transformed the company’s image to sportiness. The Ford Mustang has played the role of halo car for Ford along with other models such as the Thunderbird and the GT. However, among these three models, only the Mustang has had a smashing success.

Meanwhile, the Pontiac Solstice played as a highly successful halo car for the GM marquee, named as one of the automaker’s ‘damaged brands’. Recently, another GM brand offered the Sky, featuring the brand’s future design direction and critics love it.

Here’s a list of the halo cars from both the past and present. So, what’s your favorite ‘halo’ car?

Pontiac Solstice
Saturn Sky
Ford Thunderbird
Ford GT
Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500
Dodge Viper
Mazda Miata
Lincoln Navigator
Chrysler 300
Volkswagen Phaeton
Toyota Prius
Chevrolet Corvette
Oldsmobile Aurora
Studebaker Avanti
Honda/Acura NSX

In its latest New Car Ratings and Reviews 2006 edition, Consumer Reports highlighted the most important safety features and convenience amenities that new cars must have. These features make a big difference in the overall value and satisfaction new car buyers derive from their purchase. In fact, Consumer Reports advocate that new car buyers should rather choose to purchase new cars with the following attributes and features.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – ESC helps the driver hold control of his car especially when negotiating a turn. Cars with ESC have 30% fewer single-vehicle accidents compared to cars without it.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) – ABS is very important in controlling the vehicle when under heavy braking. It also helps reduce stopping distance on slippery pavement.

Side and head protection air bags – doors and side panels absorb very little crash energy, leaving passengers very vulnerable in the event of side impact. Air bags provide protection by providing a cushion between the passengers and the vehicle’s structure.

Backup systems – a car’s blind zone can pose some safety problems. Back up systems typically detects any object, displays an image on a dashboard screen or alerts the driver of an impending collision.

Steering Wheel Controls – Now, you can adjust cruise control, audio, and climate control settings without taking your hands off the steering wheel or your eyes off of the road.

The 2006 version of the Volkswagen Passat took the top sport in the premium mid-size car category of the 2006 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards of automotive research firm AutoPacific, Inc. Car owner surveyed by AutoPacific cited the Volkswagen Passat’s outstanding interior design, high grade materials and European driving mechanics as the main reasons why they are satisfied with their car. The new 2006 Volkswagen Passat is completely revamped version both inside and out. It features a fresh, new, sporty European styling and a new, 4-cylinder, two-liter base engine with an output of 200 hp at 5,100rpm.

The new Passat also has a new handling system that offers active-return steering and straight-ahead driving correction assistance. Its safety features now include advanced power steering systems, electronic stabilization and anti-slip features. Meanwhile, the Passat was also awarded the ‘Double Best Pick’ designation by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety because of its outstanding performance in front and side tests. Not only that, Kelley Blue Book also recently named the 2006 Volkswagen Passat as one of the top ten best redesigned cars.

Source: The Auto Channel

The new Chevy Camaro will appear as one of the heroes in the upcoming ‘Transformers’ movie, one of the most anticipated films due for release next year. The Transformers character ‘Bumblebee’ will be portrayed by a Camaro who will start out as a 1970’s model and later rebuilt into a 2008-2009 Camaro. Other characters in the movie include ‘Starscream’ which is an F-22 Raptor and ‘Optimus Prime’, a fire truck. Tuner company Saleen will also be involved in the film. A Saleen Mustang police car will also be featured. ‘Transformers’, a collaboration between DreamWorks, Paramount and Hasbro, is slated for a July 4th premiere next year.